Work-holding machine



SCP- 24 1929 E. w. LAYcocK 1,729,076

' WORK HOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1928 ZIM/vanto@ EJ/Mluzy@ oel/ Patented Sept. 24, 1929 AUNITED STATES EDWIN W. LAYCOCK, E CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE WORK-nomine MAcHrNE Application led February 18, 1928. Serial No. 255,424.

This invention relates to a work holding machine and has relation more particularly to a machine of this kind especially designed and adapted for use in railroad shops for banding locomotive springs although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such particular use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind comprising a swinging arm or lever adapted Ato be operated Vupon application of suitable pressure -to gether with holding or clamping means Lcoacting with said lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this liind wherein is employed a pair'of pressure operated holding or clamping elements designed and arranged to coact to hold a spring body or the like in position and to bend a holding band thereabout', and also adapted to be employed to hold articles to facilitate welding or similar operations.

`The invention consists in the details of lconstruction and in the combination and arpanying drawing, wherein is illustrated a view in side elevation with a portion broken away of a holding device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, B denotes a base member herein set forth as an I-beam of requisite dimensions and which has supporting legsl 1 associated with the opposite end portions thereof. These legs 1 in practice are preferably fastened to cross'tiesburied inthe ground although any other suitable foundation may be employed. `Mounted upon one end porrangement of the several parts of my im-v tion of the base member B and extending upwardly therefrom is a standard or column S, the upper portion of which having fixedly secured thereto a cylinder C. Working in the cylinder C is a conventional piston P (indicated by broken lines) and working with said piston P and extending through the lower headof the cylinder C is a piston rod 2. The lower or exterior end portion of the rod 2 is operatively connected through the medium of the leg .3 with an end portion of the power lever or beam L. The lever or beam L is disposed between the legs f1 of the standard or Vcolumn S whereby said standard or column servesas a guide for the vertical movement of the beam or lever L.

Thelbcam or lever L at a predetermined point inwardly of its outer or opposite end is pivotally mounted upon, as at 5, an upstanding standard or column 6 for swinging movement in a vertical direction. The beam` ,or lever L is disposed in a direction lengthwise of the base memberB and the outer exof a rock arm 9. This rock ar1n9 at a desired point intermediate its ends `isj supported, as at 10, for vertical swinging movement by the upstanding bearing block 11 suitablyy secured to the adjacent end portion ofthe basememberB..

Carried by and'underlying the outer or forward end portion ofthe rock arm 9 is a jaw plate or die 12 which, in its operation, coacts with a jaw plate or die 14 mounted upon the base member-B 'directly below the jaw plate or die 12.` Inwardlyof the jaw plate or die 14 and snugly arranged between said jaw plate or die 14 and the bearing block 11 is an upsta'nding clamping plate orf'die member 16 for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. l

Delivering within the cylinder C inwardly of or above the piston P is a pipeline 17 leading from a suitable source of air under presiov sure and interposed in said line is a controlling valve 18. Branching from the line 17 at o a point inwardly of the valve 18 is an exhaustV pipe line 19 in which is interposed a controling valve 20.

When it is desired to hold work, such as a locomotive spring, the same is positioned between the jaw plates or die members 12 and 14:. and upon opening the valve 18 the pressure entering the cylinder C will force the piston P and the rod 2. downwardly resulting in a lifting of the inner end portion of the rock arm 9 and downward movement of the clamping aw plate or die member 12 toward the second clamping jaw plate 14.

As the pistonP and the rod 2 therefor move downwardly, the adjacent or inner end portion of the lever or beam Ll comes into contact with and places under compression the upstanding spring member 21 mounted upon the adjacent end portion of the base member so that upon closing of the valve 18 and opening of the valve 20 in the exhaust line 19, Said piston P will be moved upwardly into its release or normal position and the jaw plate 12 moved upwardly or away from the plate or die member 14 or the work interposed therebetween,

The'forwardV or front end of the base member B has extending outwardly therefrom a bracket 22 with whichis pivot-ally engaged an intermediate portion of a4 vertically disposed lever 23, the upper end portion of which carrying a jaw plate or die member 24, opposed to the plate or die member 16 and workingdirectly above the plate or member 14. The lower end portion of the lever 23 is operatively engaged, as at 26, with the outer end portion of a rod 27 moving with the piston working in the cylinderC-. As herein disclosed, the cylinder C is arranged below the vbase member Band delivering within the cylinderC inwardly of the piston P" isA a pipe line 28 alsoleading from ak suitable source of compressed air supply. This pipe liner 28 has interposed therein a valve 29 andbranchingl from the line 28 inwardly of the valve 29 is an exhaust line 30 leading to the exhaust line 1.9 hereinbefore referred to. This exhaust line has interposed thereinthe valve31.

Upon opening the valve 29 the pressure within the. cylinder Cimposed uponthe pis-V ton P. will` rock the lever 23 in a direction to move the jaw plate or` die member. 24inwardly or toward the'plate or member 16. This action is of particular advantage when it is desired to weld two or more overlying pieces of tmaterial as it assures pressure on all four sides with effective assembly andsuch action is also of advantage in banding a locomotive sprin In banding springsfit isk to be understood that aytthe same timeyas thespring leaves are Vbeing properlyassembled the band will be bent to properly surround said spring assemA bly and thus materially reducing the time and labor required in connection with work of this kind. It is to be understood, of course, that the band will be properly positioned with respect'to the jaw plates or die members be fore the springs are applied.

I find it of advantage tok provide the beam or lever L inwardly of its pivotal mounting with a shear blade 32 coacting with a shear blade 33 carried by an upstanding block or upright 34 suitably mounted upon the base member B.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a work holding machine constructed in accordance with my illYention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility withV which it may be assembled and7 operated, and it will also be obvious. that myrinvention is susceptible of some change and, modification E.

without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for Vthis reason I do` not wish to be understood as limi-ting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed. Y i.

The machine as herein disclosed. can also be readily employed with facility for the bending ofl metal by simply placing a suitable die block upon the jaw plate or die 14g I claim 1. In a machine ofthe character described,

Va lever member mounted intermediate its ends for rocking movement, a second? lever pivotally mountedvintermediate its ends for rocking movement and having one endarranged adjacent and in a lower planethan one end of the first mentioned lever, a link .connection between the adjacent ends of the Y levers, a iuid pressure operated element connected with the other end of the first mentioned` lever to oscillate the same, ajaw, plate upon the other end. of the second mentioned lever, and a fixed jaw plate arranged beneath the lever jaw plate to coact therewith for holding a body.

2. In ay` machine of the character described, a pair of arms each pivotally mountedintermediate its ends and arranged inv right angu;

lar relation to the other with the end of one arm adjacent an endV of the other arm,.jaw plates carried by the arms atl their adjacent ends, a pair of fixed'jaw plates each arranged to have its working. face substantiallyparallel with the working face of an arnr carried jaw plate, and means for oscillating each of said arms from its other endEto cause the jaw plate carrying ends ofthe armsA to Swingin` intersecting paths each toward a fixed jaw plate, to clampa member .substantially las described. Y i Y 3. Ina machine ofthe character.'described, a pair of arms each pivotallymounted,intermediate its ends and arranged right. angular relation to the other With the end of one arm adjacent an end of the other arm, jaw plates carried bythe arms at their adjacent f ends, a pair of fixed aw plates each arranged t have its Working face substantially parallel With the Working face of an arm carried jaw plate, means for oscillating each of said arms from its other end to cause the jaw plate carrying ends of the arms to swing in intersecting paths each toward a fixed jaw plate, to clamp a member, and means for controlling the actuating means fer the arms independent-ly one of the other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aHX my signature.

EDWIN W. LAYCOCK.

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